Saturday, March 1, 2008
Today, Rick and I went to the Canadian Home Workshop Show in Toronto.
When we first arrived we were allowed to go in early because I had the Awards Winners poster to be put on display at the Steel City Tool Works booth.
Next, we made our way to the Master’s Workshop where I found Ryan Servill preparing for his day. 
Ryan, over the duration of the show was building a duplicate to this cabinet. 
The quote from the Show Magazine says, ” Watch a master craftsman at work! Canadian Home Workshop magazine
showcases the knowledge and passion of top Canadian woodworkers. Come watch custom-furniture desiger and builder Ryan Shervill at work. Drop by the master’s Workshop and watch as Shervill transforms rough stock into a stunning project over the course of the three-day show.”
After chatting briefly, Rick and I went on our way to check out the rest of the show.
Our first stop was at Logosol where they were slicing up a log with one of their portable milling machines. This was really fascinating and we watched him square up the log and then take his first plank. Later on in the morning we talked to one of the representatives about their company and about LumberJocks.com. The gentleman was quite excited to hear that Martin is in Slovakia and, with his noticeable accent, asked which city Martin was from… a small world!
Most of the displays were the same as seen at other shows. We did see one new display: Proxxon Now this was interesting to me since I could see the usefulness for small boxes etc. There products include a small table saw, router table, plunge router, drill press, bandsaw, scroll saw, lathe… and more. All of the products were small.. small as in “let’s make some doll furniture small”. I did try out the little router table and it made a great little edging on the piece of wood I had. Unlike my Dremel in a router table base, this seemed to have enough power to do some serious work. I hinted that it was my birthday next week (ok, it wasn’t really a hint – I just said that this would be a perfect gift”) but it didn’t happen. I’m am left to dream about my little workspace.. Maybe someday I’ll add one of these pieces to my tool bench.
Next we stopped by Rob Cosman’s display and watched him sweep his block of wood creating ribbons of wood that flew out of his plane like pieces of silk. He overheard me say something about trying that and next thing you know I’m up there with this GIANT plane in my hands. And, unlike Mr. Cosman, I didn’t make it look like running a hot knife through butter!
But… I did make a ribbon of wood, with a little help from the expert. 
He gave me my creation to take home but it didn’t survive the trip very well. Ha.
We spoke briefly about what he’s up to. Did you know that he has 10 children?? And his wife home schools them? She’s my hero!! As for woodworking, this is Mr. Cosman’s last show with Lie Nielson and he will be focusing on his DVD’s etc. I hope to have a more formal interview with him to learn more about his new focus.
Somewhere in our travels, as i was heading to the washroom, I heard a voice say, “Now that’s a nice t-shirt”. I turned around and there was Gord Graff. (Thank goodness I knew he was going to be there or I would have been stuck in the position of him knowing who I was and me not knowing which LumberJock he was! Ha.)
Anyway, we had a wonderful conversation that was cut short because I wasn’t the only one who was on the way to the washroom :) Oh, did this fall into “too much information”????
(Unfortunately, the camera didn’t get the lighting right on this photo.)
Although in many ways was similar to all the other wood shows, what made this show special was the number of demonstrations and hands-on opportunities. This, in my opinion, set it apart from other shows we’ve attended.
Another jaunt around a couple of displays and then we headed home. A great day – I got to meet two famous LumberJocks!!!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
21 comments so far
Dick Cain
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4290 posts in 687 days
posted 126 days ago
Thanks for the tour Debbie, it looks like you had a great time.
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
GaryK
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8182 posts in 376 days
posted 126 days ago
Very nice description of the show and some pretty nice pictures.
Did you buy anything?
PS. You look different without your famous hat. :-)
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 126 days ago
that was the first thing Ryan said.. “Where’s your hat?”
:)
We did have a good time—mostly because I got to meet Gord & Ryan.
Did we buy anything. ah yup. ... Kreg system. Now Rick and start building my cabinet in the dining room :)
Haha.. ok, No rush… he still has a big birdhouse that he wants to build
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 126 days ago
Oh and I forgot that we saw the new Access tools on display (by General). A gentleman was working, seated, at the lathe It looked to be very convenient, with everything within reach.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
SPalm
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652 posts in 270 days
posted 126 days ago
That was fun to read. Thank you MsDP, you gave me and the DW a good chuckle.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Scott Bryan
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7757 posts in 209 days
posted 126 days ago
I would be shocked if you didn’t buy anything. How is is possible to go to a woodworking show with all those tempting tools and displays and not buy anything. I just hope you didn’t max out your card(s). I certainly would have been tempted had I been there.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 126 days ago
actually, we rarely purchase at a wood show.. but those Praxxon tools.. I could have purchased every one of them.
We were talking about them at supper and I think they could all fit on our dining room table. I could put them on a big lazy susan and just give it a spin from one tool to another.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Douglas Bordner
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2255 posts in 451 days
posted 126 days ago
That little plunge router – that’s the one I want!! Nice visit, even if you forwent the traditional lumberjock garb.
It was cool that you were able to rub elbows with Ryan and Gord. I hope you didn’t remind Rob of your association with the Good Doctor of Dovetails from Alberta <vbg>. Tha gaol agam ort, Bob#2.
Thanks, Debbie!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Karson
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11538 posts in 788 days
posted 126 days ago
Thanks for the review. Debbie. It’s great to meet other LJ’s at different places.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 125 days ago
Douglas, I didn’t think of it until we were on our way home. I wish I had remembered it earlier—I would have liked to have heard his version of the incident!!
the hat and coat is just too hot and cumbersome to carry around all day.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Ryan Shervill
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175 posts in 200 days
posted 125 days ago
LOL…what was I DOING in that first pic? I look like I’m having a seziure!! Its almost 9PM on Sunday night, and I’m just home from the show. After being down in T.O. since Thursday AM, it’s certainly nice to be home.
I was thrilled when you showed up Debbie, and a good time was had by all. I wish I had oif had a few more minutes to chat, but my area was a zoo for all three days. I did get the second (well….third actually…story for another time) cabinet done by the end of the show….barely :) Gord was there in full force delivering his top-notch seminars, and there were more than a few other well known personalities cruising the isles as well.
I got to meet lots (like 30,000!) of our readers, aquaint and re-aquaint with some people from here and the other boards, and finally put some faces to the names. Probably most importantly I got reminded how great a group of people WW’ers are. The magazine staff bent right over backwards to make sure everything was done, and the people who came to the show were, without exception, fantastic! Oh yeah….More than a few new people know about the LJ’s site now!
Even I got to buy a new tool! That Bosch 12” SCMS that I’m using in the picture is in the back of my truck right now :) They made me a deal that was just too good to pass up (I figure they thought that after three days of my beating on it no one would want to buy it anyway)
And by the way Debbie: That “mystery guy” I introduced you to was Douglas Thomson, Editor (and big boss) of Canadian Home Workshop Magazine, and probably one of the nicest guys around.
Ryan
-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 124 days ago
I thought you said Editor.. and then second guessed myself…
He is great. It was a wonderful chat we had.
I really enjoyed the show! Looking forward to next year already :D
Congrats on the new purchase!!
(oh and the first picture: Rick took two and this was the best one :D ) haha
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
PanamaJack
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4454 posts in 465 days
posted 124 days ago
Great tour Debbie. I can’t wait until the next woodworking show, next January, in Indianapolis.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 124 days ago
We have one more this spring – Kitchener Ontario. Maybe I’ll get to meet even MORE LumberJocks!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 124 days ago
oh.. was I supposed to be excited about the tools???
yah.. maybe I’ll get to see even MORE new tools!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Gord Graff
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89 posts in 282 days
posted 124 days ago
Hi Debbie,
Oh, that’s just great…....................the camera works well for eveyone one but me, yeah right. LOL.
If I had to choose any person in the world to walk to the washroom with, it would be you. I really enjoyed our conversation, it was a shame that both of us had to cut it short.
Next time we meet, I’ll be sure and run to the washroom first…........................
All the best
Gord
-- Woodworking podcasts and more.... http://gordgraff.blogspot.com/
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 124 days ago
hahaa well, next time we chat it will be at your shop, right?? :)
you looked good for the camera… but I’m looking a little ghostly. or ghastly.. lol
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Douglas Bordner
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2255 posts in 451 days
posted 120 days ago
Deb, you’re going to do a tour of Gord’s shop? In real life?!? Cool!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 120 days ago
yah a real one!!
now you have me sweating.. will I do as good a job as you do??? !!!! The pressure!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Douglas Bordner
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2255 posts in 451 days
posted 120 days ago
Are you kidding? The poise and grace that IS MsDebbieP shall prevail.
Let me know if you need any photo adjustments…
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 548 days
posted 120 days ago
lol yah.. could you take about 5 lbs off here and another 5 lbs off there.. and make sure my double chin isn’t doubling and .. lol
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)